Better late than never? It's been a long time in the making, and with summer knocking at my door, I'm finally ready to share my five piece french wardrobe selects for spring! I've been enjoying all of the pieces for a few weeks now and I'm extremely pleased with the way this challenge has worked out for me thus far. Being forced to consider each piece I'm adding to my wardrobe before buying is giving me a new perspective on my personal style and the way I shop.

For those of you new to this series I recommend reading part I and II before continuing the post.

Prior to starting the five piece french wardrobe challenge I never really considered myself a big trends buyer. I've never had the expendable income to really do so, or so I thought. But since starting this challenge I've realized that a majority of my closet is made up of poorly made, cheap clothes with no chance of lasting more than a season or two of wear.  It's been really eye opening, and I'm now forcing myself to rethink the worth of clothes and just how much is reasonable to spend when a product is made of high quality fabrics, constructed beautifully, and unique to my wardrobe. A beautiful example of this being my new Elizabeth Suzann top; the Marlena Top is handmade in the US out of gorgeous crepe de chine silk (bonus it's reversible)!

That's not to say I think clothes have to be expensive to be worthwhile. One of my selects for spring was an ASOS jersey swing dress. I chose it because I needed something very basic, black, and wrinkle free for travel. It's been my go-to piece since buying it way back in February and I couldn't be happier. What I am saying though, is that the quality, fit, and construction now trump my immediate need to fill a gap in my wardrobe. I now research, search, and second guess every product I add to my shopping cart.

Another area I'm happily finding myself dig deeper into is seeking out unique, one-of-a-kind pieces to add to my wardrobe. Like the blue embroidered skirt and huipil top I found on Etsy for spring. They're both vintage, handmade items that make me feel instantly special whenever I wear them. Who doesn't want to walk confidently in a room, knowing they'll be the only one wear [fill in the blank]? 

It's a good feeling.

Selects:

1. Blue embroidered skirt - Vintage from Etsy

2. St. James Striped Shirt - J.Crew

3. Marlena Tank - Elizabeth Suzann

4. Embroidered Huipil Top - Guatemalan Vintage from Etsy

5. Black Swing Dress - ASOS

I don't think I'll be stopping this challenge any time soon, and my closet will continue to thank me. I'm half was through my summer selections so I'll be sharing more french five goodness soon. - b.

In mid-May I had the chance to travel north to the sleepy town of Brimfield, Massachusetts with our buying team to attend my very first Brimfield Flea Market. I've wanted to experience this world famous market for years and to say it was a dream come true would be an understatement. I was there to catalog their experiences and collect inspiration for a series of posts on BHLDN's blog B-Inspired. What I ended up with was a new appreciation for the creativity of our buyers, and memories of great times with a team I love more each day.

Days started early, with Dunkin Donut coffee in hand and layers of clothes to shield us from the pre-dawn chill. We'd hit the fields by 6AM, and visit tent after tent of chotskies and treasures. The buyers were a well oiled machine; scanning tables and quickly flitting through booths like the pros they are. Each group had their own mission: Accessories was after vintage jewelry and exquisitely detailed handbags, while Decor was after embroideries, unique metalwork or woodwork, and paper ephemera. In some cases their field finds are a perfectly curated capsule for our stores' vintage assortment; while for others the journey has just begun as they'll inspire products in the months to come.

I did manage to squeeze in a few tents for myself this trip, bringing home a stuffed Indian elephant (random I know) and a hand embroidered shaw from the Victorian Era. They're both helping finish up that living room project I started months ago. I think I'll need to go back to Brimfield, and next time bring a small fortune and a Uhaul. - b. 

Some images are kindred spirits, they relate and respond to one another in a way similar to how body language communicates between two people. It’s chemical, mineral, visual. It’s couplings. - b.

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